After preserving the fire source, Chen Wen left most of his tools in the shelter.
He only brought a flask and a dagger.
The main purpose of this trip was to explore the surroundings and find materials to build a shelter, along with searching for water.
The goals of other contestants were similar to Chen Wen’s.
Once they found a suitable place to establish a ho, they all began exploring the surroundings.
Except for Number Nine.
After painstakingly removing the thorns of the Teddy Bear Cactus from his leg, Number Nine chose to rest a bit in the morning.
And to treat the wound on his leg.
But the thorns of the Teddy Bear Cactus are really formidable.
Not only are the thorns sharp, but they also have barbs.
While Number Nine was removing the thorns, his leg suffered more severe secondary damage.
Number Nine, facing difficulty!
...
Over at Chen Wen’s side.
He began today’s exploration.
Before the temperature fully rose, the Sonora Desert was truly teeming with life, with everything striving to thrive.
Nurous birds flitted joyfully between the giant columnar cacti, chirping cheerfully.
But to Chen Wen, the sound was rather torturous.
Because he could only look but not eat.
"Catching birds is no easy task."
Chen Wen couldn’t help but say.
Before coming here, he had studied materials and learned so thods of making traps.
Regarding the birds of the Sonora Desert, Chen Wen had enough understanding.
Most birds in the Sonora Desert are edible and allowed to be hunted by the program team.
But catching these flying creatures takes a lot of effort.
Right now he can’t look or think about it, it’s too tempting!
Having been hungry all day, Chen Wen shook his head, no longer paying attention to the birds above.
Instead, he focused on the ground, looking for suitable materials.
Soon, so materials suitable for shelter construction appeared before Chen Wen.
Branches, leaves, stones...
With the help of [Ho Slave], Chen Wen quickly gathered a large amount of materials for shelter building.
However, he did not carry these materials back, but left them on his path.
Continuing to explore forward.
This is also Chen Wen’s habit; each ti he goes out, the items he collects are placed along the route he walks.
Once the exploration is done, he takes them all back on the return.
As Chen Wen continued his exploration, he ventured further and further.
After roughly crossing the second ridge, a particularly green valley appeared in front of Chen Wen.
"There might be water here!"
Chen Wen switched hands to carry the cara, exclaiming in surprise.
Only ample water sources could support this greenery.
Even if there’s no obvious surface water, underground water suffices.
Chen Wen carefully walked along the ridge, determining the route down.
A cloud of dust rose as Chen Wen slid down the gentle sandy slope.
Wiping his hands, Chen Wen began exploring the valley.
Water ans animals.
Therefore, Chen Wen was especially careful, probing with a stick every few steps.
As he walked towards the foot of the mountain, the ground vegetation beca denser.
According to the information he had read earlier, this phenonon indicated a 100% chance of water sources deeper in the valley.
Sure enough.
When Chen Wen opened a clump of agave with a stick, a pond appeared before him.
Chen Wen quickened his steps and exclaid in surprise: "Water! This water cos so tily!"
But when he reached the pond’s edge, its condition made Chen Wen frown.
Dirty!
This pond had only one feature.
Lots of branches and leaves lay subrged, surrounded by cracked mud.
Floating above the pond were countless insects and larvae, as well as so plants resembling duckweed.
It looked utterly unappealing for drinking.
"Clearly, this is an unclean water source. Drinking directly, those with weak stomachs might end up with diarrhea, or worse. In the wild, the consequences of diarrhea are actually quite severe, so never drink such dirty water directly."
"Even for those with strong stomachs, drinking it might pose no imdiate issue but over ti, could lead to chronic death!"
Chen Wen aid the cara at the water source, explaining: "Unless you’re on the brink of death without water, don’t drink directly!"
"But it’s not to say this pond water can’t be consud. We can filter it through other thods, or even take it back for distillation. After processing, it becos a good water source. However, I’m not prepared to filter it now, so let’s not fetch water for the ti being."
Chen Wen said as he firmly rembered the pond’s location.
When leaving the pond, Chen Wen headed in a different direction, exiting from the other side of the valley.
But shortly after leaving, Chen Wen sensed sothing amiss.
This valley was too quiet!
Unlike the campsite in the Giant Cactus Forest, this valley, while devoid of cacti, had many trees and shrubs.
Logically, this place was more suited for birds to nest than the giant columnar cacti.
Yet in Chen Wen’s continuous exploration, he found no bird’s nest in this valley!
There’s sothing odd about this place!
Just as Chen Wen was pondering this.
Suddenly, he ca across a dead bird before him.
The bird died a miserable death.
Its entire head was gone, looking as if bitten off by sothing.
What made Chen Wen more anxious was the bleeding wound!
Even the bird’s body was still warm!
Which ant this bird was lively not long ago, but during the ti Chen Wen was in the valley.
Its head was bitten off by so ferocious creature.
Chen Wen imdiately drew his dagger, vigilantly scanning his surroundings, especially the trees around them.
However, he didn’t notice anything unusual.
"This place is not safe to linger!"
Chen Wen decisively tucked the unknown bird’s corpse into his pocket and swiftly left the valley.
And right after he left.
In the dense bushes, sothing flashed by.
...
Upon exiting the valley, arriving at the open space outside.
Chen Wen finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Just monts ago, he was extrely close to the bird killer.
Furthermore, the assailant was in hiding while he was exposed.
Chen Wen was completely passive, which made him very uncomfortable.
Taking out the bird’s corpse, Chen Wen carefully examined it.
"This bird should be a Yellow-headed Siskin, a small bird belonging to the Siskin family and Yellow-headed Siskin genus."
From the remaining yellow feathers below the headless bird’s neck, Chen Wen identified its type.
"A small bird indicates it was likely preyed upon by so dium-to-small-sized animal."
"In the Sonora Desert, there aren’t many dium-to-small-sized predators. Excluding those clumsy fellows, it becos easy to identify."
Chen Wen dissected the neck of the Yellow-headed Siskin, examining the crush state of the bones.
Then he checked the chest of the Yellow-headed Siskin.
There were two sizable blood holes here.
Chen Wen appeared enlightened as he roughly guessed what attacked the Yellow-headed Siskin.
"Judging by the neck bones, the Yellow-headed Siskin was attacked by a creature with decent teeth, and there is a very deep blood hole in its chest, about three centiters deep, indicating the attacker possesses a pair of canine teeth and a large mouth."
"I suspect the attacker is either a bobcat or a coyote. The possibility of a North Arican skunk is slim since I didn’t sll any pungent odor."
Chen Wen’s mind flashed with information about these carnivorous creatures.
In the Sonora Desert, there are not many dium-to-small-sized carnivores.
He rembered the information very clearly.
"It seems this place is likely either the predator’s hunting ground or nesting site. I must exercise caution."
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